galápagosislands - buffalo bill center of the west · natural history of the archipelago. his...
TRANSCRIPT
GalápagosIslands
Join us in the islands of discovery — Cruise to the Galápagos, where you
are greeted by giant tortoises, sea lions and marine iguanas, and stroll pristine
beaches among blue-footed boobies and Sally Lightfoot Crabs.
2 | Galápagos: Islands of Discovery
Islands of Discovery
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PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION PACKET Page 5 IntroductiontotheGalápagos
Page 6-7 MapofEcuador,Galápagos
Page 8-9 GeneralInformation
Page 10-11 WhattoPack
Page 12-13 Weather&Climate
Page 14-15 Geography&Geology
Page 17 BiologicalEvolution
Page 18-21 GalápagosCommonSpecies
Page 22-23 EnvironmentalIssues
Page 24-25 CharlesDarwin
Page 26-27 HumanHistory
Page 28-31 DailyItinerary
Page 32-33 OptionalExtension
Page 34-35 YachtInformation
Environmental Adventure CompanyP.O.Box1562,Livingston,Montana59047www.eactours.com|[email protected]
November 6-17, 2014
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The Islands of Discovery...
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AtriptotheGalápagosIslandwillbethejourneyofyourlifetime.Located1,000km(600miles)from
theEcuadorianmainland,thearchipelagoconsistsof13majorislands,ofwhich5areinhabited.TheIsland’sinterestingvolcanichistory,aswellasitsrichfloraandfaunahavebeenadmiredandstudiedbynumeroustravelers,scientist,andnature-lovers.ScientiststillfacesamysteryofhowsuchalargediversityofspeciescoulddevelopinaremotelocationliketheGalápagosIslands.
OntheIslands,amultitudeofanimalsarerompingabout:themainreasontouristsandnatureloverspaytheGalápagosIslandsavisit.
InterestedwhofirstsetfootontheIslands?WhetheritwastheIncas,refugees,pirates,orseafarerswhowereseizedwithathirstforadventure?OneofthefirsttovisitwasCharlesDarwin,whowasfascinatedbythenaturalhistoryofthearchipelago.Hisfive-weekstaygavetheimpetustothefamousTheoryofEvolution.TheGalápagosIslandsareblessedwithpleasantweatherallyearround,whichmeansthatthereisno“perfect”timetovisitthesepreciousIslands.Still,youmighttakesomefactorslikeHighSeasonvs.LowSeason,ortheclimateintoaccount.TheGalápagosIslandswon’tleaveyouuntouched.Travelingtotheislandsoffersthejourneyofyourlifetime.You’llaweamidstplayfulseals,elegantalbatrosses,fieryredSallyLight-footCrabs,andsneakyFrigatebirds.
**Please note:The itinerary is always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, sea or weather conditions or politics of the Galápagos National Park Authorities and/or unforseen circumstances.
Sally Light-foot Crab.
Introduction to Galápagos
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GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REQUIRED
TripmembersneedtobeingoodhealthandgoodphysicalconditiontobeabletofullyenjoyanexpeditiontotheGalápagosand/ormainlandEcuador.ExperiencingtheGalápagosIslandswillinvolvefrequenttransfersashoretolandingsites,ortodivesites,aboardsmallboatsknownaspangas,requiringsomephysicaleffortandbalance.Someofthelandingsareonstonejettieswithwet,slipperylavarocks,whileotherstakeplaceonsandybeacheswithsomesurf.Dailynaturehikesmayincludewalkingonirregularandelevatedterrainincludingboulders.Briefingswillbegivenbyyourguideinadvanceofthelandingstobetterhelpyoudeterminelevelsofdifficulty.Havingagoodsenseofbalanceandbeingrelativelysurefootedisarequirementofthistour.TravellingthroughthehighlandsofmainlandEcuadormayinvolveexperiencingaltitudesbetween2,500and3,600meters(8,200and11,800ft)abovesealevel.
BEFORE YOU TRAVEL – DOCUMENTATION
Avalidpassport(PLEASECHECKTHEEXPIRATIONDATE)isrequiredfortraveltomainlandEcuadorandtheGalápagosIslands.Mosttouristsareallowedtostayup90days.PleasecheckwithEnvironmentalAdventureCompanyifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutyourdocumentation.
ARRIVING IN ECUADOR
DuringyourflighttoEcuador,youwillbegivenaT3TouristInformationCardwhichMUSTBECOMPLETEDBEFORELANDINGINQUITO.ThecardalongwithyourpassportwillbepresentedtotheimmigrationofficeruponarrivalatthePassportControlareainQuito.Haveyourflightticketsreadyiftheyaskforthem.IfaskedaboutthepurposeofthetriptellstheofficialsthatyouareonvacationandaregoingtotheGalápagosIslands.AcopyoftheT3formwillbereturnedtoyoualongwithyourpassport.Pleasekeepitinasafeplacesinceyouwillberequiredtoturnitinwhenyouleavethecountry.Youwillthen
proceedtothebaggageclaimareatoclaimyourcheckedluggageandclearcustoms.Yourbagswillusuallybeinspected.Afterleavingcustoms,youwillbemetbyyourhostforanairporttransfertoyourhotel
SAFETY AND SECURITY
ItisrecommendedthatyoumaketwophotocopiesofyourpassportIDpage,airlineticket,tourdocuments,traveler’scheckIDnumbersandairlineitinerary.Leaveoneathomewithfriendsorrelativesandtaketheothercopywithyou,keepingthecopiesseparatefromtheoriginals.WhileyoutravelinEcuadoralwayscarryyourpassportwithyousinceitisalegalrequirementandyoucouldbeaskedforitatanytime.Youmaybeaskedtoleaveyourpassportatthehotelfrontdeskwhencheckingin.Thisisokayandsafe.Yourcopywillsufficefortouringthecity.Youwillalsoneeditwhenchangingmoneyorpayingwithtraveler’schecks.AlwaysbecarefulinmainlandEcuador–keepawatchfuleyeoveryourbelongings,neversetyourcameradownandbewaryofpickpockets.MONEY
ThelocalcurrencyisUSdollars.MasterCardiswidelyacceptedinGalápagosandEcuador,VISAisalsowidelyacceptedinQuito.Pleasenotethatthereisa10%servicechargeonallcreditcardpaymentswithinEcuador.BankhoursinQuitoareMondaytoFriday9:00AM–4:00PM.ThereareseveralmoneyexchangebusinessesinQuitoincludingATMmachineslocatedinmanylocationsaroundthecity.Alwayschecktheamountrequestedandtheamountreceived.Ifthereisaproblem,callthebankassociatedwiththatATMimmediately.InGalápagosthereisonlyonebankandyoucanonlygetcashwithMasterCard.TherearenoofficialmoneyexchangebusinessesintheGalápagos.Theislandsarecashandtraveler’scheckorienteddestinations.Bediscreteanddonotdisplayyourmoney.Carryyourmoney,creditcardsandthelikeinyourfrontpocket,amoneypouchorpackheldclosetoyourbody.
General Information
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TELEPHONE SERVICE
ThereisfullphoneandcellularphonecommunicationintheGalápagos.TomakeacallonceyouhavearrivedontheEcuadorianmainland,itisrecommendedtousecallingcards,sincecallsmadefromyourhotelcanbeveryexpensive.CallingcardscanbepurchasedatmostlocationsaroundQuito.InQuitotherearemanyInternetcafeswithcheapemailandnet-phoneservice;andinPuertoAyora,thereareatleast3Internetcafes.Inquirewiththehotelfrontdesk.LANGUAGE
CommunicationonthemainlandisdifficultifyoudonotknowSpanish.InGalápagos,ontheotherhand,itiseasiertocommunicatebecausemanypeoplewholivetherecanspeakEnglish.Learnafew
phrasesandgivethelanguageatry–apersonreallyrespectsonetrying.FOOD/WATER
Pleasebecarefulabouteatinguncookedfood,includingvegetablesandpeeledfruit.Itisbettertodrinkbottledwaterordesalinatedwaterthatweprovideonboardouryachts.Almostalltherestaurantsarecarefulaboutusingcleanorbottledwaterandrecognizinggoodsanitationbutitisbettertoavoidanyhealthproblem.Alltheservicesweofferonboardtheyachtareperfectlyselectandfollowallsanitarydetails.Ourgeneralruleistousebottledwateronly!
ELECTRICITY
110VACand220VAConsomecases.
Blue Footed Boobies.
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Choosingwhattobringwithyouonatripisaspersonalaschoosingatravelingcompanion,andbynomeansdowedareproposeacomprehensivepackinglistthatworksforeveryone.Butherearesomeessentialsandsuggestions:
CLOTHES
ForthedaytimeintheGalápagos,youwillmostlikelywanttobeinshortsandaloosecomfortablet-shirtortanktop.Awide-brimmedorlong-billedhatandapairofsunglassesareessentialsforprotectingface,eyes,earsandneckfromthebrightandscorchingequatorialsun.Ourboatsdonothaveanysortofdresscode,andyourdaytimeclotheswillbefine.ConsiderbringingonlyoneortwopairsoflightpantstotheGalápagos.Theywillbetoowarmusually,butyoumightwantthemfortheplaneandperhapsatnighttoenjoytheoceannights.Also,bringalightsweaterorsweatshirtsoyouwon’tmissmagnificentnightlystar-gazing.
YoumustpassthroughQuito,whichisalsoontheEquator,buthighinthemountainsat2850m(9350ft)withacoolclimate.Arrivingattheairportdressedforcool/coldweatheriswise,sopackajacket,preferablyawaterproofonethatcandoubleasaraincoatintheislands.
FOOTWEAR
Withoutadoubt,Teva-stylesandalsarethemostusefulfootwearyoucanbringtotheisland.Theycanbewornduringdryorwetlandingontheislands,protectyourfeetfromthehot,harshvolcaniclandscapeandkeepthemcool.Youmightwanttheprotectionandsupportoftennisshoesorsneakers,butwewouldrecommendthatyoubringyourolderbroken-inpair.Anewpairwillsufferthedamageofsaltwater,volcanicrock,andsand.
SUNSCREEN
YES!Welistsunscreenasitsownsectionbecauseit’ssoimportant.Thesunhitstheequatorhardandcanburnyoubeforeyouknowit.WerecommendSPF45
waterproofsunscreen,andeverywhere-don’tforgetthetopsofyourearsandfeet!Strongsunburncanbeadebilitatingcondition-especiallyforthosewithlighterskin.
FOR THE WATER
Aswimsuitortwoisperfectforthewater-thesunwilldrythemquicklyandtheyaregreatforloungingaroundonthedecks.Ifyouhaveyourownsnorkelingequipmentandyoufeellikebringingitwithyou,dosobyallmeans.Oftenitisbettertohaveyourownequipmentwithwhichyouarecomfortableandcertainofitsfittingthanrentingfromtheboatorashop.However,ifyoudonothaveyourown,ifyourboatdoesnotsupplyit,oryoudon’twanttobringyoursdown,itisquitepossibletorentfromashopinQuito.Forthosethatliketospendhourssnorkelinganddivingdeep,youmightconsideraShortywetsuitforthedeeper18-23degreeCwaters.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ofcourseyouwillbringyourcamera!TheGalápagosisonelargephotoopportunityafteranother,andyouwillreturnwithmanyphotosthatcanneverberepeated.Forthisreason,wesuggestthatthinkabouthowmanyphotosyouwillwanttotakeandthenbringtwiceasdiskorcardsforyourcamera.Frameswillquicklyfillwithalltherarities,wildlifeandoceanscapesyoucandreamof.Forthosethathaveaquality35mmcamera,bringingawide-angle/macrolensanda70-210mmzoomlensisadvisable.Thezoomlenswillletyouframeanimalsatanyvarietyofdistances,andreducetheamountofcameraequipmentyoulugwithyoutotheislands.Apolarizingfilterhelpstoreducetheglareofthesunlightonthewaterandmakethedolphinsmorevisibleaswellashelpingwithsunsetshots.Andifyoudonothaveanunderwatercamera(asmostofusdon’t),Kodak,Konica,andFujifilmallmakedisposableones-theyworksurprisinglywellandletyoutakephotosofthesealionyoubefriendorthesharksthatmakeyoulooktwice!Bringingvideoequipment,whileaddingmorebulk,weightand
What to pack for the Galápagos
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worry,alsomeansthatyoucapturenotonlytheimageofthebluefootedboobies,buttheircourtshipdance.Ifyoubringatripod,makeitalightweightnon-bulkyoneasyou’llhavetohikewithit.
ACCESSORIES
Otheritemsthatyoumightconsiderbringingarebinoculars(8x42arerecommended),andextracamerabatteries.
MEDICATION
FirstAidkitsareprovidedonallboats,butmaynotbecompleteorprovideforthosewithspecialneeds.Alwaystravelwithallprescriptionmedicinesthatyoumayneed.Specialmedicinesyoushouldconsiderbringingalongaremotionsicknessmedication(ifyoursealegsdon’tdevelopquickly),andaloe-veragel(incaseyouforgetouradviceaboutsunscreen),
Quitoisat9,500 feet,(3,000m)andsomepeopleexperiencesymptomsofaltitudesicknesswhichinmostcasescanberemediedbydrinkinglotsofwater,gettinglotsofrest(whichcanbedifficultwhentraveling),takingaspirin,orifyouexperiencesymptomsofmildheadaches,DIAMOX,adrugthatincreasesoxygenprofusionisreadilyavailableinQuitopharmacies.Ifyouexperiencesevereheadachesorrespiratoryproblems,tellthecaptainandconsultadoctorimmediately.
Whateverelseyouwouldconsiderbringingonboardaboattripofequatorialislandsforaweek.Rememberthatyouareonanisolatedboatinisolatedislands600milesfromthenearestcontinent.Soifthereissomethingyoucan’tdowithoutanddon’tknowifyoucanfinditthere,bringit.
Lastly, if you wear glasses, bring an extra pair —just in case!
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TIME ZONE
ThetimezonefortheGalápagosIslandsisGMT-6,whichisonehourbehindfromEcuador’smainland,whichisGMT-5.FYI–MontanaisGMT-7.
CLIMATE
TheclimateattheGalápagosIslandsissubtropicalandthewarmElNinoCurrentandthecoldHumboldtCurrentregulateit.
TEMPERATURE & RAINFALL
Theweathertemperaturevariesduringtheyear:• January to May: fromlow80°F(27°C)tolow90°F(32°C)(possiblerain)• June to September:low60°F(15°C)tohigh70°F(21°C)(possiblerain)• October to December:70°F(21°C)to80°(27°C)(dryseason)
June to December -FromJunetoDecemberthesoutherntradewindsbringthecolderHumboldtCurrentnorthtotheGalápagos.Thismeansthatthewateriscooler,andalayerofhighatmospheremistpervadestheislandskies.Ineffect,thehighlandsofthelargerislandsarekeptgreenandlush,whilethesealevelislandsandshorelineshavelittleprecipitation.
Thus,JunetoDecemberisgenerallycalledthe“dryseason“knownforitsblueskiesandmid-dayshowers.Duringthisseasontouristmayobserveabigamountofspeciesaroundtheislandsortheseasuchas:gianttortoises,Humpbackwhales,blue-footedboobies,cormorants,oystercatchers,lavalizards,Galápagoshawks,maskedboobies,swallowtailedgulls,sealions,lavaherons,brownnoddy,penguins,etc.Duetothewatertemperatureitistheperfecttimefordiving.
Average Rainfall and Average Daily Temperature Month by Month
June July August September October November December23mm 14mm 6mm 6mm 6mm 7mm 30 mm(1in) (1in) (0in) (0in) (0in) (0in) (1in) 72°F 75°F 70°F 70°F 71°F| 73°F 74°F23°C 22°C 22°C 21°C 22°C 23°C 23°C
December to May -ThetimeperiodbetweenDecemberandMayisconsideredthe“warmseason.”Duringthiswarmerseason,theGalápagos’climateismoretropicalwithdailyrainandcloudierskies.Also,theoceantemperatureiswarmerforswimmingandsnorkeling.
Duringthisseasontouristmayobserveabigamountofspeciesaroundtheislandsortheseasuchas:marineiguanas,seaturtle,landiguanas,flamingos,white-cheekedpintails,maskedboobies,marineiguanas,albatross,blue-footedboobies,etc.Duetothewaterconditionssnorkelingistherecommendedactivityduringthesemonths.
Galápagos Weather and Climate
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Average Rainfall and Average Daily Temperature Month by Month
January February March April May68mm 91 mm 94 mm 72mm 34 mm(3in) (4in) (4in) (3in) (1in)77°F 78°F 83°F 83°F 77°F25°C 26°C 28°C 28°C 25°C
MARINE CURRENTS
TheHumboldtCurrent’sinfluencebringscoldwatersespeciallyduringthemistrainyseason(coolweather)fromJulytoDecember.“ElNiño”currentmaybringwarmwaterstotheGalápagosandwillmakethesurfacewarmerandrainfallincrease(JanuarytoJune).
Thewatertemperaturevariesduringtheyear:•January to June:from70°F(21°C)to80°F(27°C)•July to December:from65°F(18°C)to75°F(23°C)
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Geology of the Galápagos Islands
ThegeologicallyrecentvolcaniceruptionsattesttothefactthattheGalápagosIslandsareaplacebornoffire.Inthelast200 years,aremarkable50 pluseruptionshaveoccurred,somethreateningtheuniquefloraandfauna,somecreatingnewland(suchasthenewpahoehoelavaflowonSantiagoIsland)thatwasunseeninDarwin’stime.
PerhapsGalápagos’mostprevalentfeatureisitsharshanddynamicvolcaniclandscape.Initiallyformedbetween3millionand5millionyearsago,theislandsare“young”ingeologictime.NotunlikeHawaii,theislandsarelocatedoveranareaofparticularlyhotmantlethatinessenceburnsthroughearth’scrust,creatingvolcanicactivity.Atthese“hotspots,”volcaniceruptionspileuponformervolcaniceruptionsovermillenniauntilthevolcanicearthispushedtothesurfaceoftheocean--formingislands.
Asthetectonicplatesmove(atarateofabout 5 cmperyear),thevolcanicactivitymoveswiththem,creatingnewerislandstothewestandreducingactivityofolderislandstotheeast.Thisexplainstherelatively“youthful”rocksofthewesternislandsandthegeologicallyolderrocksofmanyeasternislands.Forinstancetheeasterlyislandsareamongotherislandsthatarepartiallyorentirelysunkenagingover5millionyearsold.However,manyofthecentralandeasterlyislands(suchasFernandinaandIsabela)havemorerecentvolcanicactivitydatingbackonly2millionyears.
Generally,theindividualislandsformfromsingleshieldvolcano’seruptionsofbasalticlavaflowsexpandingitsshores.However,thelargestisland,Isabela,ismadeupofsixvolcanoeswhichhaveflowedintoeachother,fillingthePacificgapbetweenthem.
FormedbythiscombinationofdynamicvolcanicactivityandtheeffectsofrainandthecontinualforceofthevastPacificattheircoasts,theislandsattesttotheirorigin.Thequarter-moonshapeofGenovesaandthesunkencoreacrossthebayfromPinnacleRockatBartolometestifytotheseislandsbornoffireandtemperedbysalt-water.Theseforcescreatedthesettingforthetrialsofevolutiontoselecttheuncannyanimalsandflorathatnowinhabitthesedesolateisles.
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Geography of the Galápagos Islands
Locatedover1000kmfromtheSouthAmericancontinent,theGalápagosIslands(officiallynamedtheArchipelagoofColon)areadynamicregionconstantlychangingwithvolcaniceruptions,newlavafieldsformingandislandserodingandexpanding.
Some600 milesfromtheEcuadoriancoastline,theGalápagoshavelivedinvirtualisolationformillionsofyears.Intotal,theyconsistof61 islandsandislets,with13mainislands.Seeminglikeshadowsupontheseafromoneanother,the13 mainislandsareBaltra,Espanola,Fernandina,Floreana,Genovesa,Isabela,Marchena,Pinta,Pinzon,SanCristobal,SantaCruz,SantaFe,andSantiago.
Intotallandarea,theislandsare4897sq.miles(7880sq.km)andinthetotalgeographicalareafromDarwinIslandtoSanCristobalandEspanola, 28,000 sq.miles(45,000sq.km)
ThelargestislandisIsabela,at1771sq.miles(4855sq.km),whileitmakesupclosetohalfthelandareaoftheGalápagos,isstilllessthanhalfthesizeoftheislandofHawaii.Itslargestvolcano,VolcanWolfhasmaximumaltitudeof5600ft. (1707m)makingitthehighestpointinthearchipelago.
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Male Frigate Bird.
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Whetherintheseastaringintothevioletstraightpupilofanoctopus,observingamarineiguanawashedbywavesgnawingatalgae,orfacingaserenewisetortoise-anyvisitortotheGalápagosIslandscannothelpbutponder,“howdidsuchcreaturecomeintoexistence?”Andtheywouldnotbethefirst.
“Considering the small size of these islands, we feel the more astonished at the number of their aboriginal beings and at their confined range... Hence, both in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhere near to that great fact, that mystery of mysteries —the appearance of the new beings on this earth.”
— CharlesDarwin,1845
Insuchaharshandunforgivingenvironment,itisdifficulttobelievethatthefloraandfaunaarrivingbychanceattheseislandshadanyhopetoestablishadynastyofdescendants.Howeverthefactremains,bringingmorewonderduringyoutour,whichlifedoesexistwithsuchdiversityinanenvironmentthatseemstooffersolittle.
Certainly,manyoftheinitialarrivalstotheislandsdidnotcomeatanopportunetime:atatimewithoutamatetogreetthem,withoutaplanttofeedon,withoutabitofsoiltoputdownroots.Often,overthemillionsofyearsthatchancebroughtbirdsinastorm,sealionsandpenguinsincurrents,seedsacrossfromthecontinent,thefirstlifetoremainwouldhavebeen“pioneer”species.Thesespeciesarethosethatcanexistoutofseemlynothing,suchasplantsgrowingoutoflava.Theysurvivetodieandleavetheirorganicmaterialforthenextwaveofimmigrants--feedingthenextflora,thenextvegetariancreature.
Darwin’sobservations,specificallyonwhatarenowcalled“Darwin’sFinches,”regardingtheadaptedspeciesthatexistedontheislandseventuallyprovidedthebasisforhisTheoryofNaturalSelection.Atthetime,itwasadynamicdeparturefromthecommonlyheldbeliefthatspecieswerestatic.Explainedbriefly,theconceptoftheevolutionofspeciesisbasedonanumberofcharacteristicsofsurvivalandreproduction.Inmostpopulations,thenumberofspeciesislargerthantheavailableresourcesandcompetitionisinevitable.Withinthenormalvariationthatoccursinspecies,occasionallyamutationordifferencewilloccurthatwillbesomehowadvantageoustosurvivalorbreeding,andthosewiththepositivechangewillhaveagreaternumberofoffspring.Astheoffspringarelikelytoreceivethesesamegeneticadvantages,theyalsowillbemorelikelytosurviveandpassontheirgenes.Thosebestadaptedtotheirenvironment,bestspecifiedandbestadaptivewillsurvive.
AfteryearsofisolationontheGalápagos,wheresmallpopulationsofaspeciesmusthaveexisted,adaptationswithinthatspecieswouldbemoredrasticastherewasnolargemainstreampopulationtoactasabufferforvariations.
Often,variationsofanancestorareapparent.ThelandiguanasofSantaFe,distinctintheiryellowcolor,liketheircousinsonotherislandshaveadaptedtoeatcactus,spinesandall.Theirsecondcousins,themarineiguanas,perhapsadaptedtoeatfromthesea,avoidingthecompetitiononland.Themostfamousexamplearethe13speciesofDarwin’sfinches,allstemmingfromasingleancestor,andadaptingtosuchvaryingdietsascactus,parasitesandevenblood.TheprocessofadaptationiswelldocumentedinJonathanWeiner’s“TheBeakoftheFinch,”publishedbyVintageBooks.
Biological Evolution of the Galápagos
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Galápagos Common Species
GALÁPAGOS SEA LION
TheGalápagosSeaLion(Zalophuswollebaeki)isaspeciesofsealionthatexclusivelybreedsontheGalápagosIslandsand—insmallernumbers–onIsladelaPlata.Beingfairlysocial,andoneofthemostnumerousspeciesintheGalápagosarchipelago,theyareoftenspottedsunbathingonsandyshoresorrockgroupsorglidinggracefullythroughthesurf.Theirloud“bark”,playfulnature,andgracefulagilityinwatermakethemthe“welcomingparty”oftheislands.
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATE BIRD
Namedafterthewarship,Frigate,thesebirdsliveuptotheirnamesake,stealingcatchesawayfromotherbirds.However,aren’tentirelypilferingseabirds;theyoccasionallyusetheirhighlydevelopedaviationskillsandhookedbeakstosnagwhattheycannotsteal.Asinthephoto,theirmostnotablefeatureisthemale’sinflatedredair-sackandheadshakingroutineduringmatingseason.
SALLY LIGHT-FOOT CRAB
Bornmuchdarker(almostblack)incolorastoavoidpredation,SallyLight-footcrabgrowsgainsmorevermillion,asitgrowslarger.Nimble-footedandphotogenic,thesecrabsmakeforexcellentmodels--thoughtheymaybeabitshyforclose-ups,scurryingawaysideways,upslopesandevenupsidedown.Occasionallyyoumayseeacrab“spitting”fromnearitseye.Actually,thestreamofliquidyounoticeistheSallyLight-footcrab’swayofexpellingsaltwaterthatseepsintoitsexoskeleton.
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Photos courtesy of Michael Sanders, Environmental Adventure Company
SWALLOW-TAILED GULL
OnanighttimevoyageintheGalápagoswaters,theformofabirdwillfollowtheboatforwhatseemslikemiles.Thesearethenocturnalswallow-tailedgulls,huntingthenightswimmingmarinelifeofthesea.Withtheirredeye-ringandindifferentattitudetowardscamerasandclose-ups,they’reacuteandpatientmodel.Thoughifyougettooclose,theywillletyouknowwiththeirsharpalarmcall
MARINE TURTLE Oftenseenoffthesideofthedeckcopulating,theirtracksarenotedonthebeaches.Amazingly,thefemalesgenerallyreturntothesamebeachwheretheywereborn.Feedingoffofalgaelikethemarineiguana,seaturtlescanholdtheirbreathforhours—allowingforthesnorkelertojointheminthewater.
GALÁPAGOS TORTOISE
TheGalápagosgianttortoise(Geochelonenigra)isthelargestlivingspeciesoftortoise,reachingweightsofover400kilograms(882lb.)andlengthsof1.8meters(6ft.).Itisamongthelongestlivedofallvertebrates.Lifeexpectancyinthewildisover100years,whiletheoldestknownindividualisestimatedtohavereachedatleast 170 yearsold.ThetortoiseisnativetosevenvolcanicislandsoftheGalápagosarchipelago.Asinglememberofthesubspecies(G.n.abingdoni)nicknamedLonesomeGeorge,diedin2012.
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Galápagos Common Species
BLUE-FOOTED BOOBIES
PerhapsthemostfamousofGalápagosbirds,blue-footedboobiesareassillyastheylook.NamesaftertheSpanishwordforclown,“bobo,”duetotheirabsolutelackoffearandhumorousappearance,thesebirdsareabundleofhumor.Theirmatingandbroodingisanactinitself.Afterlocatedeachotherviathemale’swhistleandthefemale’shonksacourtshipdanceoractensues.Showingeachotherhowamazinglybluetheirfeetareinalmostoff-balancefashionwhileeventuallymirroringand“sky-pointing”withtheirbeaks.Thenritualisticandsymbolicpresentsofnesttwigsareoffered.Theseareneverused,andthemaleandfemalemaketheirnestontheopengroundwitharingofguanoandtaketurnssittingonthenest.Thefemalecanbedistinguishedbywhatappearstobealargerpupil(inrealityheririshasadarkercolorationaroundtheeye).
MOCKINGBIRDS OF THE GALÁPAGOS
Thesebirdsareaclassicexampleofadaptiveradiation.Unliketheirbetterknowncounterparts,theydonot“mock”thesoundsofotherbirds,andmaketheirmealfromalizards,smallfinches,abandonedboobieeggs,andinsects.Likemanyoftheirfellowinhabitantsoftheislands,theyhavevirtuallynofearofpeopleandmayinfactfollowyououtofcuriosity.
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Photos courtesy of Michael Sanders, Environmental Adventure Company
GALÁPAGOS PENGUINS
Thetheorybehindtheexistenceofequatorialpenguinsoriginateswiththeiceage.SupposedlypenguinsarrivedduringthiscolderglobalclimatefromthePatagoniawiththecoldHumboldtcurrent.MakingahomeintheGalápagos,theybecamestrandedastheearthwarmedandlostsomeofthefatoftheirsoutherncousins.AttheGalápagos,thesecreaturesareoftenseemedtobechattingwithoneanotheronarockpeninsulaorinthewater,occasionallyswimminguptosnorkelersoutofcuriosity.Extremelyrareandendangered,thepopulationisreportedlyslowlyexpandingintheGalápagos.
GALÁPAGOS HAWK
Withlessthat150matingpairsinexistence,youaremorelikelytoseeaGalápagosHawkintheairthanperchedcloseby.Andwiththeirkeenvision,whilecirclinginthesky,theyaremorelikelytoseeyouthanviceversa.BeingoneoftheIslandsmostimportantendemicscavengers,theyplayanessentialroleatthe“top”ofthefoodchain.Nestsarebuiltlowintrees,onlavaledges,orevenonthegroundattimes.Usedformanyyearsandnestingperiods,theybecomequitelarge,sometimesevenfourfeetindiameter.Sticksarelinedwithgrass,bark,clumpsofleaves,orotheravailablesoftmaterials.Thematingpairistogetherthemajorityofthetimeattheprimeofegg-layingseason,andusuallystaysclosetothenestingsite.
22 | Galápagos: Islands of Discovery
Environmental Issues of the Galápagos
Ofcourse,adelicateworldthathascreateditselfinsucharemoteandisolatedrealmisadelicatesystem.Humaninterruptionandintroductioneasilydisturbssuchadelicatelaboratory-suchanintricatesystemthattookfrommillionsofyearstoevolvetosurviveinwhatmightseemtheleastlikelyofplaces.Thereareaplethoraofenvironmentalproblemsplaguingtheislands,somestemmingfromthepressuresofworldclimatechangessuchElNiño(ENSO),othersarisingfromcommercialfishing,andoverpopulation,andmanyresultingfromtheintroductionofspeciesbyhumansdatingbacktothe1800’s.AnotherbigproblemtheGalápagosIslandshadtofacewasabigoilspillin2001.
EL NIÑO
TheglobalweatheranomalyhittheGalápagoshard.Whileanentirelynaturaloccurrence,theweatherpatterntookavitalpartoftheecosystemoutofthechain.Manyfishsearchedfordifferentwaterstofeedupon.Thefursealsweremostgreatlyaffectedastheydependonthefishclosertothesurface.ThesurfacewaterswereheatedmoreduringtheattacksofElNiño,andthefursealsbetweenages1-4werevirtuallyallwipedout.ElNiñoalsoaffectedcoastalbirds.Theabsenceoffishinthecoastalwatersmeantthatmanyofthetraditionalnestareasforbirdswereabandoned.
HUMAN IMPACT
WhilethisunforgivinganduncontrollableforceofnaturehashadadestructiveimpactontheGalápagos,manyoftheenvironmentalissuesfacingtheGalápagosoriginatefromapotentiallycontrollablesource--humanbeings.ThepresenceofpeopleintheIslandshastwosources:migrationfromthemainlandandtourism.
• Migration Hopingtofindwork,peoplefrommainlandEcuadorhaveliterallyinvadedtheIslands.TheGalápagospopulationhasincreasedover300%inthepastfew
decades.The 1990censusmarksthepopulationat9,735.Today,morethan20,000peopleliveontheIslands.Thepopulationisdoublingeveryelevenyears,whichmeansthattherewillbe40,000peopleontheGalápagosIslandsby2014.Thisaffectsthearchipelagoinanumberofmeans.Asidefromthepressureputonthenaturalresources,thislargegrowthmeansthatmostofthegarbageisdumpedinanopen-airsiteandburnedwithnosortoftreatmentorseparation.
• TourismFordecades,touristshavemarveledattherichfloraandfaunaoftheGalápagos.Despitethehighprices,thestreamofvisitorshasneverbrokenoff.Inthesixties,therehavebeenabout1,000touristsperyear,whereastherehavebeenapproximately80,000visitorsin2001.Asecondairportwasbuiltandtheconstructionofathirdoneisunderdiscussion.Theparkservicedoesaremarkablejobofregulatingthelicensingofguides,aswellasdesignatinglow-impactlandingsites.TheNationalParkchargesa$100entrancefeeonforeigntourists,yetreceivesonly25%ofthat.Nevertheless,theparkhastodealwiththeconservationproblemsthatmotoryachtsandtheirtrashbringtotheisland.
• Over-fishingRecently,overfishingorillegalfishinghasbecomealargeissue.Whenmigrantsdonotfindworkintourism,theyoftenfindjobsinthefishingindustry.TheseacucumberandsharksoftheGalápagoshavebecomealarmingtargets,bothpopularinAsianmarketsfortheiraphrodisiacormedicinalqualities.Duetothealarmingdecreaseintheearly1990’sanExecutiveDecreeenforcedbytheNationalParkservicebannedallfishingofseacucumbersintheGalápagos.Fishermenwerenotfilledwithenthusiasm.Althoughthebanhasbeenreplacedbyaquota,therehavecontinuouslybeenstrikesonthepartofthefishermen.Onlyrecently,inApril2004,angryfishermenbesiegedtheCharlesDarwinStationanddemandedtherighttousegreaternetsandlongerlines.Theseizureended
Galápagos: Islands of Discovery | 23
withanagreementsignedbetweenCésarNarváez(Ecuador’sMinisteroftheEnvironment),andtheartisanalfishermen.Theconflict,however,isfarfromover.
INTRODUCED SPECIES
Themerehumanpresenceofpeoplealonedoesnotholdsuchaseverethreattothenativespecies.Afterall,itshumansdidnotarrivealone.Sincethetimesofthefirstinhabitants,non-nativespecieshavebeenimportedtotheislands,oftenwithdrasticconsequences.Manyofthespeciesintroducedarenotrareordeadlyinthemselves,butwhenplacedonfragileIslandswherelifetookyearstoadapt,mererats,dogs,cats,andgoatshavedramaticeffects.Feraldogs,mostlikelyimportedtotheislandsasmascotsofearlysettlers,havebeenathreattotortoiseeggs,nativeiguanaspeciesandevenpenguins.FourgoatswereintroducedtotheSantiagoIslandsintheearly1800’s,wentrampantandoneestimatecalculatedthattheirpopulationhadgrowntonearly100,000.Duetotheirconstitutionandabilitytofeedonnearlyanyplant,goatsalonemayberesponsibleforthelocalextinctionofupto4or5speciesofvegetationandcompetewiththeGalápagostortoisefortheirfoodsource.AnewlyintroducedwaspspecieshasbeensitedontheIslands,andmayberesponsibleforadecliningnumberofcaterpillarlarvae,afoodsourceforfinches.TheCharlesDarwinResearchStationconstantlysearchesforsolutionstotheproblemofintroducedspecies.
IS THERE A POSITIVE FUTURE?
WhilethereareagreatnumberofissuesandproblemsfacingthefragileenvironmentoftheGalápagos,therearesuccessstoriesandpotentialsolutionsaswell.Theintroducederadicationprogram,thoughslowgoing,haseliminatedferalgoatsfromseveralsmallislands.DogsarenowabsentfromtheislandofIsabela.Theeffortstoreintroduceandrepopulatespeciessuchaselephantinetortoisehaveincreasedtheirnumbersdramatically.EnvironmentaleducationeffortsontheIslandshelptheirinhabitantsunderstandthelarger
pictureandneedforconservation,andresponsibletourismandenforcedparkguidelineshelppreservetheGalápagosforthefuture.Butthereareseeminglyendlessneedsforthepark’spreservation,andalwayslimitedfunding.OtherthanwhatlittlebudgetitreceivesfromtheRepublicofEcuador,theNationalParkreliesentirelyonfundingfromphilanthropists,fundraisingeffortsoftheCharlesDarwinFoundation,Inc.andotherprivateorganizations.Howyoucanhelp.
WhenyoustopattheCharlesDarwinResearchStationduringyourtour,feelfreetoleaveamuch-appreciateddonation.TheCharlesDarwinFoundation,Inc.isthefundraisingarmoftheResearchStationandwouldmorethangreatlyappreciateyourcontribution.Visittheirwebsiteatwww.Galápagos.organdfindouthowyoucanhelp.
Youoryourorganization,corporationorbusinessesarestronglyencouragedtocontribute(tax-deductible)tothepreservationoftheworldheritagethatistheGalápagosIslands.
PARK RULES
WhenyouvisittheGalápagosNationalPark,sticktothefollowingparkrulestohelppreservetheuniquefloraandfaunaontheIslands.Donotremoveanyplant,animal,orremainsofsuch(includingshells,bones,andpiecesofwood),orothernaturalobjects.
1. Becarefulnottobringanylivematerialorfoodtotheislandsorfromoneislandtoanother.
2. Makesureyoudonottouch,handle,feed,orchasetheanimals.
3. DostaywithinthepermittedareasandonlyvisittheIslandstogetherwithalicensedNationalParkGuide.
4. DonotleaveanygarbageorlitterontheIslands,orthrowanyoffyourboat.
5. Donotdefacetherocks.6. Makesureyoudonotbuysouvenirsorobjectsmade
ofplantsoranimalsfromtheIslands.
24 | Galápagos: Islands of Discovery
Charles Robert Darwin. A copy made by John Collier (1850-1934) in 1883 of his 1881 portrait of Charles Darwin.
Galápagos: Islands of Discovery | 25
Charles Darwin in the Galápagos
Perhapsourfirstassociationwiththeword“Galápagos”isthename“Darwin”–andnotwithoutreason.ThetheoriesoftheGalápagos’mostfamousvisitorhavehighlyinfluencedwesternthoughtinspiredover150yearsofbiologicalresearch.AnditwastheGalápagosIslands,afteravisitofonlyfourislandsinfiveweeks,whichweretohavearesoundingimpactontheformationsofDarwin’sTheoryofNaturalSelection.
Aratherunmotivatedandfailingmedicinescholar,CharlesDarwinwasthesecondchoiceofCaptainRobertFitzroyasatravelcompanionandnaturalistontheHMSBeagle.TheStoryofthisjourneywasdocumentedbyDarwinandcanbereadinhisVoyageoftheBeagle.WhensettingofffromEnglandin1831 forafive-yearvoyage,Darwinhimselfhadlittleambitionsforgroundbreakingscientificresearch.AftercollectingfossilsontheSouthAmericanshores,theBeagle,oneamongmanyshipstodosoatthetime,stoppedattheGalápagosasawaystationtocollecttortoisesformeatfortheircontinuingjourney.
At26 yearsold,DarwinlandedonSanCristobal.DuringhisstayintheGalápagosIslands(Floreana,Isabela,SanCristóbal,andSantiago),thesamecharacteristicstruckDarwinthatstrikesmanyvisitorstodate–thatthecreaturesthatroam,flyandswimaroundtheseislandsoftenweresouniquefromthoseelsewhere.NotonlythatmanyGalápagosspeciesweredistinctfromthoseonthemainland,butthatbetweenislandsmanyspeciesofsimilarfeaturesweresoperfectlyadaptedfortheirenvironment.AmongthosethatstruckDarwinsogreatlywerethefinches,withsuchvaryingdietsascactusandseeds,fruitsandbloodthatarenownamedinhishonor.Darwinwouldlaterbasesomeofhisthoughtfromthesupposingthatthesefincheswerealldescendantsofthesamelineage.
Havingcollectedagreatdealofwildlifeandstacksofnotes,itwouldn’tbeuntil1859 thatDarwinwouldconsolidateallofhisobservationsintohisOriginofSpecies,drasticallyandcontroversiallyalteringwesternthoughtonthenatureofnature.
26 | Galápagos: Islands of Discovery
Human History of the Galápagos
GALÁPAGOS VISITED BY THE INCAS?
WhiletherehasbeensomespeculationthattheIncanculturemadeanearlyvisittotheIslandsinthe1400,manyhistoriansattributethepossiblejourneyoftheIncaTupacYupanquitotheEasterIslands,andlackingdocumentation,thistheoryiswidelydismissed.
TOMAS DE BERLANGA
OfficialDiscovereroftheGalápagos,FrayTomasdeBerlanga,theBishopofPanamadocumentedtheofficiallyfirstvisittotheislandsin1535.DelegatedtoinvestigatetheaccountsofthebarbaricactionsoftheconquistadorsinwhatisnowPeru,hisship,caughtinadeadcalm,driftedwestwardintheoceancurrents.Withwatersourcesdepleted,theBishopandcrewsearchedthenewislandsforfreshwater,almostentirelyinvain.Frustrated,andsuffering,themenresortedtochewingthenativecactusforwater.Disenchanted,theylefttheislands,butnotwithoutsendingwordtoKingCarlosVofSpain,tellingofthestrangeandfoolishlytamewildlifeandthenumerousGalápagos(gianttortoises),andthenamestuck.Theislandsappearedonthemaplateinthe16thcenturyasthe“InsulaedelosGalopegos.”
REFUGEES OF PIZARRO
Alsomotivatedbytheconquistadorsonthecontinent,anothergroupoflostsailorsdubbedtheislandswithanothername.In1546,agroupofinsubordinatesoldiersofPizzaroattemptedwhatmighthavebeenSouthAmerica’sfirstcoupdeta.Vanquishedandexiledfromthecontinent,theupstartshadlittletononauticaltrainingandweretaken,muchlikeotheranimalsthatwerealsotransportedthere,bythecurrentsuntiltheycameinsightoftheGalápagos.Withtheirlimitedmaritimeskills,theruffiansattemptedtoarriveattheislandsbysight.Peeringthroughfogandcarriedbycurrents,theyfeltasthoughtheislandsthemselvesweremovingthattheywereenchantedandnamedthem“LasIslasEncantadas.”
BUCCANEERS AND WHALERS
NotallvisitorstotheGalápagosarrivedbyaccident.Manyusedtheislandsintowaystationandportsofcall.DuringthelonghostilitybetweentheEnglishNavyandtheSpanishArmada,EnglishgaveasortofsupporttothebuccaneerswhosackedLatinAmericanportsandseizedgalleonsbynotpersecutingthem.Thesepiratesusedtheuninhabitedislandsasbaseandrefugeafterraids.Establishingports(suchasBuccaneerCoveatSantiagoIsland),theyfoundtheislandsusefulforgainingoccasionalfreshwaterandstockinguponfreshfood.Upondiscoveringthatthegianttortoisescouldbestackedupsidedownandliveforuptoayearwithoutfood,manypassingshipswentashoretogatherthefearlessanimalsformeatduringvoyages.OneEnglishbuccaneer,WilliamAmbroseCowley,drewupthefirstbasicnavigationalchartsin1684.Likeotherbuccaneers,henamedmanyoftheislandswiththenamesofEnglishroyalty-James,Albemarle,etc.Overtheyears,divershaveoccasionallyfoundevidenceofbuccaneersontheGalápagos,suchaslargejarsfound.Diveandyoumightdiscoveragalleon’spreciouscoffers!
Thebuccaneerswerenottheonlytousetheislandsasbasesforoperations.Inthe1800’s,asSouthAmericabecameincreasinglyindependentofSpanishruleandopentotrading,mercantilevesselssuchaswhalingshipscametotheislands,especiallyFloreana.HuntingthepopulationsofspermwhalesintheSouthAmericanseas,thewhalershadlastingeffectsupontheislandsthatarestillapparenttoday:thereductionofelephanttortoises,thenearextinctionofspermwhalesandtheunofficialBarrelPostOfficeonFloreana.
Atraditioncontinuedbytouriststoday,theofficewasabandonedwinecaskinwhichoutgoingsailorsplacedletters.Sailorsreturningtotheportofthelettersaddresswouldtakeitthereoutofkindness.Whiletheoriginalcaskhasbeendestroyed,theparkservicehasreplaceditandtouriststodaycancontinuethetradition,leavingpostcardsforfriendsandtakingsomebacktosend.
Galápagos: Islands of Discovery | 27
THE FIRST COLONISTS
In1807,Galápagosreceiveditsfirstresident.IrishmanPatrickWatkinsarrivedontheislandofFloreanamaroonedatsea.Fortwoyearshelivedfromgrowingvegetables,sometimestradingthemwithpassingwhalingshipsforrum.Eventuallyhestoleaship’slongboat;takingsomeofthesailorswithhim,howeveronlyhearrivedatGuayaquilonthecontinent.Anotherfamousvisitor,HermanMelvillerecountsthetaleinhisstoriesTheEncantadas.
WithEcuadorianindependence,thefledglingcountryannexedtheislands1832,renamingthemthe“ArchipelagodelEcuador.”Atthattime,theEnglishpiratenameschangedtotraditionalSpanishnamesandpatrioticEcuadoriannames,suchasFloreananamedafterGeneralFlores.
ThefirstgovernoroftheislandswastheentrepreneurialandmisdirectedJoseVillamil.Hisill-fatedprojectsfortheislandsincludeapenalcolonyformutinyingsoldiersandcommoncriminals,cultivationofguanofromboobies,andanattempttoextractcoalfromSanCristobal.Whilealmostallofhisprojectsfailed,theportonIsabelabearshisname.
Onesettlementthatformedinthe1930’sisperhapsalmostasintriguingasthewildlife.AGermandoctorofcurioustastes,FriedrichRitter,practicedwhatwouldtodaybecalledholisticmedicine.RemovingallofhisteethtoavoidanydentalcomplicationsandbringingDoreStrauch,hispatientsufferingfrommultiplesclerosis,Dr.RitterarrivedatFloreanain1929.Theretheysetupagardeningutopiathatwasquitesuccessful.SoontwomoreGermans-HienzandMargaretWittmer-joinedthem,atthelocationifnotinfriendship.Theretheylivedinastandoffishharmony,untilthearrivalof“TheBaroness.”AnAustrianwomangoingbyBaronessEloisavonWagnerBosquet,dressedwithawhip,revolverandblackboots,broughtwithherthreeapparentlove-slaves/servants:twoGermansandanEcuadorian.
Fromthispoint,disputesarosebetweenthemotleysettlers–usuallyblamedontheBaroness,andsoonaseriesofmysteries,tothisdateunsolved,occurred.OnedaytheBaronessandoneofherservantstoldtheWhittersthattheywereboundforSouthEastAsia.Theywereneverheardfromagain.TheotherGermanservantsecuredapassageonaboatheadedforGuayaquil.HewasfoundmummifiedonthebeachofMarchenaIslandwiththebodyoftheship’scaptain.Thesameyear,Dr.Ritter,avegetarian,diedoffoodpoisoningfromspoiledchicken.
WiththeconstructionofthePanamaCanal,thestrategicimportanceoftheGalápagosbecamemoreapparent.AsJapan’sempireadvancedintothePacific,theconcernedU.S.wasallowedtoconstructanairstripandsmallnavalbaseontheislandofBaltra.TheislandwasreturnedtotheEcuadoriangovernmentafterthewarandTAME(TransporteAereoMilitarEcuadoriano)nowmakesuseoftheairstriptobringvisitorsfromthecontinent.
GALÁPAGOS NATIONAL PARK FOUNDED
In1959,preciselyonehundredyearsafterthepublicationofDarwin’sOriginoftheSpecies,Ecuadordeclaredtheislandsitsfirstnationalpark,preservingwhateverlandwasnotalreadysettledforprotection.FiveyearslatertheCharlesDarwinResearchStationwasopenedoutsideofPuertoAyoraonSantaCruz.WorkingwiththeNationalParkOffice,thestationconductsresearchanddeterminescoursesofactiontoprotecttheislands.TheParkofficethenimplementsmanyofthesepolicies,constructingandmarkingtrailsforthevisitorsitesaswellasregulatingboatsandvisitorlimitations.
TOURISM IN THE GALÁPAGOS
TourismintheGalápagoshasgrownconsiderablyinthelastfewdecades.Fromthe4000visitorsin1970,thenumberoftouristshasgrowntoroughly60,000peryear.Ofcourse,asthenumberofvisitorsincreases,theimpacttothepreservationoftheislandsbecomesgreater.
28 | Galápagos: Islands of Discovery
Galápagos Daily Itinerary November 6-17, 2014
DAY 1 – Thursday, November 6:
ARRIVE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
ArriveatMiamiInternationalAirport(MIA)onyourownandcheckintoMiamiInternationalAirportHotellocatedinTerminalE.Roomswillbereservedandwaitingcheck-inforindividualswithvariousarrivaltimesintoMiami.
Dinner:Onyourown. Overnight: MiamiInternationalAirportHotel–
MIAWebsite: http://www.miahotel.com/
DAY 2 – Friday, November 7:
DEPART MIAMI FOR QUITO!
MeetatTerminalH-JMiamiInternationalAirportforcheck-inandboardthe7-hourflighttoQuito,Ecuador.Meetingtimewillbedeterminedonceflightsareconfirmed.
Example flights TBD: Airlinewillbeselectedaccordingtonumberperclassselected.
•COPAAirlines,Boeing737-800, 168 passengers,16 FirstClass
•LANAirlines,Boeing767-300, 225passengers,20 BusinessPlusClass
•AmericanAirlines,Boeing767-300, 225passengers,20 BusinessPlusClass
WhenyouarriveattheQuitoairport,ourexcellentEnglish-speakingguideswillgreetyou.Theywillassistwithluggageandleadthegroupfortransfertothehotel.
Dinner & overnight: Quito,Ecuador,JWMarriottQuito(B,D)
Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-photos/uiodt-jw-marriott-hotel-quito/
DAY 3 – Saturday, November 8:
QUITO & SURROUNDING REGION
Breakfast:Athotel.JoinedbyanexpertEnglish-speakinghistorianvisitthehistoriccenterofQuito,highlightingplacessuchastheBasilicaChurch,IndependenceSquareandthePresidentialPalace.QuitoissurroundedbyvolcanoesandnestledinanAndeanvalleyatanelevationof9400feet(2870m).ThecolonialpartofQuitoiswellpreservedwithitschurchesandmonasterieswhichexemplifythefusionofSpanish,Moorish,Italian,FlemishandindigenousinfluencesmakingitthefirstcitytobedeclaredaWorldHeritageSitebyUNESCO.
Websites:http://wikitravel.org/en/Quitoandhttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/2
Lunch:Includedatalocaleatery.Later,visitLaMitaddelMundo,CenteroftheEarth,andtheEquatorMuseum.ThisonsitemuseumfeaturesinteractiveexhibitsonhowtheIncasdeterminedthemiddleoftheearth,plusinterestingscienceexperimentssuchasbalancinganeggonanailandtheaffectsoftheCoriolisforceonearth.
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_Mitad_del_Mundo
Later,enjoyanauthenticEcuadoriandinneratLaRondaRestaurant.
Website: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294308-d1061310-Reviews-Rincon_La_Ronda-Quito_Pichincha_Province.html
Overnight: Quito,Ecuador,JWMarriottQuito(B,L,D)
Cruise Itinerary**Please note: Itineraries are unlikely to change
significantly but are subject to change. Weather, wildlife breeding, instructions from the Galápagos National Park, specific abilities and interests of passengers as well as operational matters may cause your guide or captain to change the time or nature of visits. Your guide will always endeavor to select the best itinerary within these limits.
Website: http://Galápagosconnection.com/index.php/gallery-efl
Wet Landings:Departingyachtintoshallowwater
Dry Landing:Departingyachtontoland
Galápagos: Islands of Discovery | 29
DAY 4 – Sunday, November 9:
DEPART FOR GALÁPAGOS – SAN CRISTOBAL
Breakfast: Athotel.TransfertoQuitoairportandAerogalAirlineforflighttotheGalápagos.
Flight itinerary (subject to change):November 9: Quito/Galápagos(SanCristobal)
–AEROGAL–flight#2K36-Departuretime09:00 Arrivaltime 11:30
November 16:Galápagos(SanCristobal)/Quito–AEROGAL-flight# 2K37-Departuretime12:30 arrivaltime16:55
UponarrivaltoPuertoBaquerizoMoreno(SanCristobal),ourcrewiswaitingattheairporttoescortyoubybustothemaindeckandthenbyzodiactoyouryachtanchoredinthebay.Afterthewelcomebriefingandsafetydrill,adeliciousbuffetlunchisserved.WetravelbybustoCerroTijeretasor“FrigatebirdHill”issituatedjustoutsidetownnearto“LaPredial”afishingcommunitypresentfrom1952 to 1960.ItisoneoftwositeswhereyoucanspotnestingcoloniesofbothspeciesofFriagebirds(GreatandMagnificent).ThetrailleadstoPlayaMannwheretherearevistasofbeautifulscenery.Wereturntotheyachtanddepart3PMtocruisearoundLeonDormidoakaKickerRock,averticaltuffconeformationthatrisesabruptlyalmost500feetoutoftheocean.Onthecliffs,wespotBlue-footedBoobies,NazcaBoobiesandMagnificentFrigatebirds.JoinyourfellowyachtmatesthiseveningforyourislandbriefingfollowedbyourCaptain’swelcomecocktailpartyanddinnerpreparedbyourwell-trainedchefs.
Overnight:M/YEric,FlamingoorLettyTBD(B,L,D)
DAY 5 – Monday, November 10:
CERRO BRUJO – PUNTA PITT
WearrivetoCerroBrujo,abreathtakingwhitecoralbeach,consideredoneofthemostspectacularinGalápagosandperfectforapeacefulwalkwithexpansiveviewsandgoodbirdwatching.WehaveanopportunitytosnorkelorkayakfromthebeachorswimwithsealionsaswellasaZodiacride.Duringlunch,we
cruisetowardthenortheasterntipofSanCristobaltoPuntaPitt,atuffformationthatservesasanestingsiteformanyseabirdsincludingallthreetypesofboobies:Bluefooted,NazcaandRed-footedboobies,bothFrigatespecies,swallow-tailedgulls,Stormpetrelsandacolonyofsealions.PuntaPittisconsideredtobeafirstclasssiteforbirdsandonparwithGenovesa(Tower)Island.Wereturntotheyachtforabriefingfollowedbydinner.
Overnight: M/YEric,FlamingoorLettyTBD(B,L,D)
DAY 6 – Tuesday, November 11:
ESPAÑOLA: PUNTA SUAREZ - GARDNER BAY
WedisembarkatPuntaSuarez,Española(Hood),wherewewitnessthehighestrateofendemicspeciesinGalápagos.Sealionsnoisilygreenusaswelandontheirbeach.CuriousHoodmockingbirdspeckatourshoelaces.FromApriltoDecember,thewavedalbatross,foundonlyonEspañola,performtheirwildmatingritual.Coloniesofblue-footedboobiesengagein“sky-pointing”toshowoffforpotentialmates.Nazcaboobiesbusilycarefortheiryoung.Stunningswallow-tailedgullsaretheonlynocturnalgullsintheworldandfishatnight.Red-billedtropicbirdstakeshelterunderthecliffs.WealsofindDarwin’sFinches,GalápagosDovesandGalápagosHawks.Observeuniquespecieofmarineiguanaidentifiedwithtracesofredandgreencolorings.Colorfulsallylight-footcrabscrawlalongtheshorelineneartothefamous“blowhole”.AfterlunchwehaveawetlandingonGardnerBay,Española(Hood),walkalongseeminglyendlessstretchofthiswhitesandybeachwhereyou’llfindlargecoloniesofsealions.Thereisnotrailtofollowsothisisachancetoexploreortakealongwalk.YoumayfindaGalápagosHawk,Darwin’sFinchesorHoodMockingbird.Swimwithsealionsrightfromthebeach,explorethebayandisletsbykayakorjustrelaxonthebeach.There’sanexcellentsnorkelingsiteoffGardnerIsletwithacolorfuldiversityofsealifenearTortugaRock.ExplorecavesbyZodiaccoveredwithinvertebrates.Wereturntotheyachtforabriefingfollowedbydinner.
Overnight: M/YEric,FlamingoorLettyTBD(B,L,D)
DAY 7 – Wednesday, November 12:
FLOREANA: PUNTA CORMORANT – DEVIL’S CROWN - POST OFFICE BAY
StepashoreatPuntaCormorant(Floreana),oneofthefewpopulatedislandsintheGalápagos.Floreanapresentsarichhumanhistorywithmysteryandintrigue.Setfootonagreen-sandbeachalivewiththesoundsofsealions.Followatrailtoabrackishlagoon,homeofthepintailducks,commonstilts,andtheGreaterFlamingos,thepinkestintheworld.WindyourwaypastarichvarietyofplantsincludingMorningGlory,CutLeafDaisies,PaloVerdesandScalesialeadingtoabeachwithpowersoftsand.Seaturtleslaytheireggsinthesanddunesandraysswimintheshallowwater.Afterthewalk,wehaveanopportunitytosnorkelatDevil’sCrownorChampion,ashallowsunkencratercolonizedbyabrilliantarrayofcolorfulfishandcorral.Chosetohaveapicniclunchondeckordineinside.Afterlunch,wevisitPostofficeBay,notthemostscenic,butoneofthemostfamoussitesinGalápagos.Hereiswhereapostbarrelwaserectedandputintouseinthelate18thCenturybyEnglishwhalingvessels.Youareinvitedtoleaveapostcardandtopickupanymailfromyourhomearea.Wereturntotheyachtforabriefingfollowedbydinner.
Overnight: M/YEric,FlamingoorLettyTBD(B,L,D)
DAY 8 – Thursday, November 13:
SANTA CRUZ: HIGHLANDS, LOS GEMELOS, DARWIN STATION
WetravelbybustothehighlandsofSantaCruzIsland.ThescenerygraduallychangesaswewindourwaythroughallsevenvegetationzonesfoundinGalápagos.Here,wevisitthetortoisereserveat“LasPrimicias”oneoftheprivatefarmsinthehighlandswhereweencountergianttortoisesintheirnaturalhabitat.Westopat“thetunnels”,thelargestlavatubesfoundinGalápagos.WevisitLosGemelos,Spanishfor“TheTwins”,apairoflargepit
craterswherewefindthebrightredmalevermilionflycatcher.Afterlunch,wevisittheCentrodeCrianzaFaustoLlerena(akatheCharlesDarwinResearchStation).Seeallthreetortoisecoralsandthebreedingcenterwithnewhatchlingsandminiaturetortoisesnotyetreadytoberepatriated.Scientistsfromallovertheglobeworkatthestationandconductbiologicalresearchfromanatomytozoology.WestopatVanStraelenHallwherethereareexhibitsandapresentation.Visitorscanseethetortoiseandlandiguanacorrals.PuertoAyoraisthesocialheartoftheislandswiththelargestpopulationof24,000.Thiseveningyouhavetheoptiontoreturntoyouryachtforabuffetdinnerorremainintownonyourownaccount.Thosewhoreturntotheyachtwillbeprovidedzodiacstoreturntotowntoshopforsouvenirsorstopinataninternetcafé.Zodiacswillbeprovidedforyourreturntoyouryacht.
Overnight: M/YEric,FlamingoorLettyTBD(B,L,D)
DAY 9 – Friday, November 14:
SOMBRERO CHINO & BARTOLOME
WedisembarkatBartolome,whereitseemslikewearewalkingonthemoon.ThisyoungIslandisinhospitabletomostplantsandanimals.Afteradrylanding,climb 30minutesupstairsleadingtothesummitofaonceactivevolcano.Alongtheway,wepausetomarvelatlavabombs,spatterconesandcindercones.Fromthetopofthewoodenstairs,wecangazeoutacrosstheislandforapanoramicviewoftheislandand“PinnacleRock”,anerodedtuffcone.CrystalclearwaterisaninvitationtosnorkelfromthebeachwithschoolsoftropicalfishandGalápagosPenguinsortakeaZodiacride.Afterlunch,wevisitLasBachas,(Spanishfor“barges”).ThereisalongstretchofasoftwhitesandbeachandinteriorlagoonswherewefindtheGreaterFlamingo.Thereisalsoawonderfulchancetosnorkelherefromthebeach.LocatedofftheSoutherntipofSantiagoisSombreroChinoakaChineseHatthatowesitsnametoitsshape.Afterawetbeachlandingwithsealioncolonies,thetrailgiveswaytoaprimevallandscape
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Galápagos Daily Itinerary November 6-17, 2014
ofvolcanicrubbleincludingcrackedlavaformationsandlavatubes.Wefindmarineiguanasandpairsofoystercatchers.YoucanchoosetosnorkelatasitethatisfrequentedbyGalápagospenguins.Thereisabriefingfollowedbydinnerwhileweanchorinacalmprotectedarea.
Overnight: M/YEric,FlamingoorLettyTBD(B,L,D)
DAY 10 – Saturday, November 15:
SOUTH PLAZA & NORTH SEYMOUR
TodaywevisitSouthPlaza,asmallgeologicalupliftwithtallcliffsofferingspectacularviews.Afteradrylanding,thetrailleadsusthroughPricklyPearorOpuntiaandSesuvium.HerewecanfindtheGalápagosLandIguanafeedingonthecactusleaves.Towardtheendofthehill,weencounteracolonyofbachelorsealions.Thedominantbullsareinvariousstagesofrecoveryfrombattleslostoverprimebeachterritory.WealsofindSwallowtailedgulls,ShearwatersandRed-billedtropicbirdsthatbuildtheirnestsalongthecliffs.Afterlunch,wehaveadrylandingatNorthSeymour,asmallgeologicaluplift.WefollowatrailthatleadsustoSwallow-tailedgulls,Blue-footedboobiesandtheendemicLandiguanas.VisitthelargestcolonyofMagnificentFrigatebirdsfoundinGalápagos.Aswestrollalongthebeach,
wefindMarineIguanasandsealionsbodysurfthenorthernswells.WereturntotheyachtfortheCaptain’sFarwellcocktailpartyanddinneraswellasaspecialslideshowpresentationbyyourguides.
Overnight: M/YEric,FlamingoorLettyTBD(B,L,D)
DAY 11 – Sunday, November 16:
INTERPRETATION CENTER / DEPART FOR MAINLAND
VisittheInterpretationCenteropenedonSanCristobalIslandin1999.HerewegainamorecompleteunderstandingofthenaturalandhumanhistoryoftheIslands.Afterwards,wespendtimeinportbeforetransferringtotheairportforourflightbacktothemainlandonAerogalAirline.
Website: http://www.aerogal.com.ec/?lang=enArriveinQuitobymid-dayandcheckintoourhotel.
Later,meetforafarewelldinneratTheTheatrumRestaurantoneofQuito’sbestEcuadorianrestaurants.
Website: http://www.theatrum.com.ec/Overnight: Quito,Ecuador,JWMarriott(B,L,D)
DAY 12 – Monday, November 17:
TRANSFER TO AIRPORT AND FLIGHTS HOME (TBD) OR BEGIN A CUSTOMIZED EXTENSION.
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32 | Galápagos: Islands of Discovery
Optional Extension*Optional Extension is adjustable and
customizable for independent travelers.
CUSCO – MACHU PICCHU – PERU, 4 Days/3 NightsCUSTOMIZED ADDITIONAL DAYS AVAILABLE – PLEASE INQUIRE.
DAY 1 –TransfertoairportforflighttoLima,Peru.Arrive
Limaandtransfertofirstclasshotel.
DAY 2 – TransfertoairportforflighttoCuscoUponarrival,meetandtransfertoselectedhotel.
AfternoontourofthecityincludingthebestofCusco:theKoricanchaTemple(TempleoftheSun)andtheCathedralwithitsmagnificentchapelsandbaroquealtarsandpaintingsfromtheCusquenianSchool.Thetouralsoincludesthesurroundingruins:thefortressofSacsayhuaman,theIncabathofTambomachay,PucaPucaraandtheamphitheatreofKenko(AllPrivateservices).OvernightinCuscoatafirstclasshotel.
DAY 3 – TransfertoPoroytrainstationforrideacrossthe
AndestoAjuasCalientesatthefootofthemountains.ArriveattheentranceoftheruinsoftheLostCity.
Tourthisincredibleregion.LunchatMachuPicchuSanctuaryLodge.Later,transferbacktothetrainforridetoyourhotel.OvernightinCuscoatafirstclasshotel.
DAY 4 – TransfertoairportforflightbacktoLima.Arrival
andconnectionwithyourowninternationalflight.
NET RATE PER PERSON: (based on double occupancy)1 Traveler-..................................$3,250 perperson2Travelers-................................$1,850 perperson3 Travelers-................................$1,750perperson4-5 Travelers..............................$1,650perperson
Galápagos: Islands of Discovery | 33
Machu Picchu
34 | Galápagos: Islands of Discovery
Yacht Information
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR YACHT PLEASE VISIT THESE SITES:
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/expert-review-eric-letty-flamingo-Galápagos-cruise
http://www.cruise-Galápagos.com/EricFlamingoLetty/
http://www.detourdestinations.com/eric-letty-flamingo-i-Galápagos-yachts.html
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